It may not an obvious ‘must do’ on every Australian’s bucket list, but even if you are not a mad flower enthusiast it is hard to dismiss a visit to the beautiful tulip fields and gardens when visiting Holland. But to appreciate the tulips in all their flowering glory, it is all in the timing.
From mid-March to the end of May, tulips transform large parts of Holland into a colorful patchwork that ignites a passion for photography you may not have realised you had.
However, to witness tulips in bloom in their peak season, it is recommended to time your visit for mid to late April. This is when tulips are usually prolifically blossoming.
If this timing doesn’t fit your travel itinerary, then it is not the end of the world! Bulb flowering beauties other than tulips also grow extremely well in Holland. The end of March is when the crocus season starts. The daffodils and early and small tulips are next, from the beginning of April. From mid-April the daffodils and the hyacinths bloom.
The best-known bulb fields are located behind the North Sea dunes, between the cities of Leiden and Den Helder. Other bulb fields, just as lovely, are situated near Enkhuizen (Bovenkarspel, Andijk) and in the province of Flevoland (Noordoost Polder, Oostelijk Flevoland). Walking, cycling and car routes are available from the local tourist information offices in the bulb field regions.
Keukenhof in Lisse is covered by over 7000 bulbs in the spring and is one of the best places to get a good look at many different varieties of tulip, and go a bit snap-happy.
At the end of the day, all you really need to do is take the train or bike through the countryside to see the tulips growing and blooming in field after field.
Sources
1. http://www.holland.com/us/tourism/article/tulip-season-in-holland.htm
2. http://www.holland.com/us/tourism/regions/flower-fields.htm
